Endoscopic injection needle assembly inluding an endoscopic hood

Abstract

An endoscopic injection needle assembly and method of using the same. According to one embodiment, the assembly includes an endoscope, an injection needle, an endoscopic hood and a suction source. The endoscope is shaped to include a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of longitudinal channels. The distal end of the injection needle is positioned within a working channel of the endoscope. The injection needle is sized relative to the working channel to permit fluid to flow around the injection needle in the working channel. The endoscopic hood is mounted on the distal end of the endoscope and extends distally therefrom, the endoscopic hood being in fluid communication with the working channel and having an opening through which fluid may be drawn into the endoscopic hood. The suction source is applied to the proximal end of the working channel to cause fluid to be drawn into the endoscopic hood through the opening and then proximally through the working channel. In addition, suction causes tissue to be drawn into the endoscopic hood. The injection needle may then be operated to penetrate the suctioned tissued.

1 . An endoscopic injection needle assembly comprising:
 (a) an endoscope, the endoscope including a working channel, the working channel having a proximal end and a distal end;   (b) an injection needle, at least a portion of the injection needle being disposed within the working channel, the injection needle being sized relative to the working channel to permit fluid to flow around the injection needle in the working channel;   (c) a hood, the hood having a proximal end and a distal end, the hood extending distally from the distal end of the endoscope, the hood being in fluid communication with the working channel and having an opening through which fluid may be drawn into the hood; and   (d) a suction source, the suction source being applied to the proximal end of the working channel to cause fluid to be drawn into the hood through the opening and then proximally through the working channel.   
   
   
       2 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening is provided in the distal end of the hood. 
   
   
       3 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hood has a straight distal end. 
   
   
       4 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hood has a beveled distal end. 
   
   
       5 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a side window provided at an intermediate point between the proximal end and the distal end of the hood. 
   
   
       6 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hood has a closed distal end. 
   
   
       7 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the injection needle comprises a hollow needle, an inner catheter and an outer catheter, the hollow needle being fixedly mounted within a distal end of the inner catheter, the hollow needle and the inner catheter being slidably mounted within the outer catheter. 
   
   
       8 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the injection needle comprises a hollow needle and a catheter, the hollow needle being fixedly mounted within the hood, the catheter being coupled to the hollow needle. 
   
   
       9 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the hood includes a side wall and at least one slat extending inwardly from the side wall, the hollow needle being mounted on the at least one slat. 
   
   
       10 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the hood has a beveled distal end. 
   
   
       11 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hood has a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, the proximal portion comprising a side wall and a transverse wall, the opening being provided in the transverse wall, the proximal portion being mounted on the endoscope with the transverse wall spaced from the distal end of the working channel, the intermediate portion having a reduced outer diameter as compared to the proximal portion. 
   
   
       12 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the distal end of the hood is solid. 
   
   
       13 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an ultrasound probe, the ultrasound probe being mounted on the hood. 
   
   
       14 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hood comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a reduced outer diameter as compared to the proximal portion and being shaped to include a trough, the opening being provided in a wall separating the proximal portion and the distal portion, the opening being aligned with the working channel and being adapted for a needle of the injection needle to be inserted therethrough. 
   
   
       15 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hood includes a tubular proximal portion and a tubular distal portion, the tubular distal portion having a reduced outer diameter as compared to the tubular proximal portion. 
   
   
       16 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the tubular distal portion has a beveled distal end. 
   
   
       17 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the endoscope further includes a viewing channel and wherein the tubular proximal portion has a viewing opening aligned with the viewing channel. 
   
   
       18 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hood includes a side wall and a plurality of slats extending inwardly from said side wall. 
   
   
       19 . The endoscopic injection needle assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the hood has a beveled distal end. 
   
   
       20 . A method of making an injection, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an endoscope assembly, the endoscope assembly including an endoscope and a hood, the endoscope including a proximal end, a distal end and a working channel extending from the proximal end of the endoscope to the distal end of the endoscope, the hood being mounted on the endoscope and extending distally beyond the distal end of the endoscope, the hood having a proximal end, a distal end, and an opening through which fluid may be drawn into the hood;   (b) inserting the hood and the distal end of the endoscope into a patient;   (c) positioning the hood in the area of a targeted tissue;   (d) providing an injection needle, the injection needle having a proximal end and a distal end and including a hollow needle and a catheter, the catheter being fluidly coupled to the hollow needle, the distal end of the injection needle being positioned within the working channel of the endoscope so that the hollow needle is in the vicinity of the distal end of the endoscope, the injection needle being sized relative to the working channel to permit fluid to flow around the injection needle in the working channel;   (e) applying a vacuum to a proximal end of the working channel to draw fluid into the hood through the opening and then proximally through the working channel of the endoscope, thereby causing tissue to be drawn into the hood;   (f) inserting the hollow needle of the injection needle into the tissue drawn into the hood; and   (g) dispensing a desired substance into the inserted tissue through the catheter and the hollow needle.   
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the opening in the hood is provided in the distal end of the hood. 
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the hood has a straight distal end. 
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the hood has a beveled distal end. 
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the opening is a side window provided at an intermediate point between the proximal end and the distal end of the hood. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the hood has a closed distal end. 
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the hood positioning step comprises contacting the opening of the hood with tissue surrounding the targeted tissue.